Surveying 1

Angles, Azimuths, and Bearings

Eng. Anas Al-Hares

Zarqa University
Engineering and Technology
Civil Engineering

INTRODUCTION
Determining the locations of points and orientations of lines
frequently depends on : the observation of angles and directions.
In surveying, directions are given by :
azimuths and
bearings.

angles measured in surveying are classified (depending on the plane

in which they are observed) as either:
horizontal or
vertical.

INTRODUCTION
Horizontal angles are the basic observations needed for determining
bearings and azimuths.
Vertical angles are used in trigonometric leveling, stadia.
Angles are most often directly observed in the field with total station
instruments ,
although in the past many instruments have been used like :
Transits ,
Theodolites and
compasses

INTRODUCTION
three basic requirements determine an angle:
1. reference or starting line

2. direction of turning
3. angular distance (value of the angle).

KINDS OF HORIZONTAL ANGLES

The kinds of horizontal angles most commonly observed in
surveying are :
1.

interior angles.

2.

angles to the right.

3.

deflection angles.

KINDS OF HORIZONTAL ANGLES

Interior angles, shown in the Figure, are observed on the
inside of a closed polygon

KINDS OF HORIZONTAL ANGLES

Angles to the right are measured clockwise from the rear to the
forward station.
Angles to the left, turned counterclockwise from the rear station, are
illustrated in the Figure (b).

KINDS OF HORIZONTAL ANGLES

Deflection angles are observed from an extension of the back line to
the forward station.
They are used principally on the long linear alignments of route
surveys.
As illustrated in the figure, deflection angles may be observed to the
right (clockwise) or to the left (counterclockwise) depending on the
direction of the route.

KINDS OF HORIZONTAL ANGLES

Deflection angles

DIRECTION OF A LINE
The direction of a line is defined by the horizontal angle between the
line and an arbitrarily chosen reference line called a meridian.
Different meridians are used for specifying directions including:
1. geodetic (also often called true),
2. astronomic,
3. magnetic,
4. grid,
5. record, and
6. assumed.

DIRECTION OF A LINE
The geodetic meridian is the north-south reference line that
passes through a mean position of the Earths geographic
poles.
astronomic meridian is the north-south reference line that
passes through the instantaneous position of the Earths
geographic poles.
A magnetic meridian is defined by a freely suspended
magnetic needle that is only influenced by the Earths
magnetic field.

DIRECTION OF A LINE
Surveys based on a state or other plane coordinate system employ a
grid meridian for reference. Grid north is the direction of geodetic
north for a selected central meridian and held parallel to it over the
entire area covered by a plane coordinate system.
In boundary surveys, the term record meridian refers to directional
references quoted in the recorded documents from a previous survey
of a particular parcel of land.
An assumed meridian can be established by merely assigning any
arbitrary direction

AZIMUTHS
Azimuths are horizontal angles observed clockwise from any
reference meridian
In plane surveying, azimuths are generally observed from
north.
Azimuths may be geodetic, astronomic, magnetic, grid, record,
or assumed, depending on the reference meridian used.
To avoid any confusion, it is necessary to state in the field
notes, at the beginning of work, what reference meridian
applies for azimuths.

AZIMUTHS
A lines forward direction can be given by its forward azimuth.
A lines reverse direction by its back azimuth.
In plane surveying, forward azimuths are converted to back
azimuths, and vice versa, by adding or subtracting 180.

BEARINGS
The bearing of a line is defined as the acute horizontal angle
between a reference meridian and the line.
The angle is observed from either the north or south toward
the east or west, to give a reading smaller than 90.
The letter N or S preceding the angle, and E or W following it
shows the proper quadrant.
An example is N 80 E.

COMPARISON OF AZIMUTHS AND

BEARINGS